How Gasperini's Roma are dominating through centre and right-side attacks

Bryan Cristante does not catch the eye, but he steals time from opponents, and that has long been the paradox of the Roma midfielder, who is often judged through an aesthetic prejudice that hides what he really brings to a match. He lacks the explosive burst of Manu Koné, does not live on dribbling and rarely produces a highlight-reel moment. But he knows the game, and he often knows it before anyone else. In this early stage of the Serie A season, Cristante is among the most consistent midfielders in the league, thanks to the rational and emotional order he conveys to the team. Under Gian Piero Gasperini he has returned to centre stage, not only in the pecking order but in the very construction of Roma's play. His quality lies above all in his timing. He knows when to speed up the build-up and when to slow the match down, finds the vertical pass with ease, and rarely forces a action without first having read the risks and rewards. The part of his game that is least visible and most important, however, is what he does without the ball. Cristante covers ground, reads the spaces, supports the press, and judges when to step forward and when to drop back to protect the defensive line. He does not simply chase the action; he tries to anticipate its development. This is also why coaches who are very different from one another have continued to consider him indispensable. Gasperini knows a version of Cristante that has almost disappeared from memory in his Roma years. At Atalanta he also used him as an attacking midfielder, exploiting his ability to make runs into the box and his quality in the area around goal. Today the player is different, more mature and probably less explosive, but that understanding of space has remained intact. Gasperini has simply given him another stretch of the pitch to interpret. Cristante remains a player who is difficult to describe through a single moment, and much easier to understand by watching an entire match. His style does not necessarily seek applause: it creates order, connects the lines and makes the game easier to read for those around him. The real misunderstanding about Cristante may lie precisely here: people keep looking for what he does not show, and forget to watch everything that makes the team work.

Roman radio pundits have been debating the Serie A title race, with several arguing Roma can genuinely challenge for the scudetto and that Lazio's surge should not be dismissed as a miracle. Rete Sport's David Rossi said the negative reaction after the Manchester defeat was undeserved by the club and by Gasperini. He said: "The negativity after Manchester was not deserved, neither by us nor by Gasp. Roma on Saturday offer another performance; they have become a team that always wins these matches. If you lose against the top 5 and win against the others, with a few draws here and there, you win the scudetto with ninety points… We not only win these games, we win them well." He added that against Sassuolo, Malen did not want to score and missed a couple of important chances, and that the first half could have been closed out 5 or 6 nil. Gianluca Piacentini, also on Rete Sport, discussed Kvernadze, who has a €4 million release clause in July, saying a January deal could cost between €10 and €12 million. On the Champions League race, he said Roma are in the mix, having reached the 11th matchday, alongside Lazio and Milan, which he said he did not expect. He noted that Napoli and Juventus are well behind. Piacentini argued that finishing second rather than fourth matters for the club's growth: "If you finish fourth you feel you have taken a step back; finish second and you have taken one forward. It is a matter of growth, so second is better than fourth." Checcо Oddo Casano, also on Rete Sport, praised the club's fitness record compared with other sides. He said: "Roma have held up well compared with other teams in terms of injuries. The work done by Gasperini and his staff is aimed at minimising injuries. Up to now, people who are always injured have stopped, such as Pellegrini and Dybala. Svilar has been unlucky with a broken foot, as has Koné… This squad runs, recovers, and we see a much more productive team than in previous years. This is down to better training. The intensity of the match is the result of the intensity of the weekly work. Competition for places has also raised the level of training, because no one is certain of his place." Mario Corsi of Tele Radio Stereo said this league is Inter and Roma, as it was at the start, and that Como can come back. He warned about Milan: "Be wary of Milan. Not so much this year, although anything can happen. Voices from Milan are talking about the January market, and beyond, they are also talking about next year. The madman (Cardinale, ed.) could build a team… I would not want Inter to win the scudetto this year and Milan next year." He added that Roma will do something in January, as the sporting director has said, and that Mora always scores, knowing where to place himself with an educated foot. Francesca Ferrazza, also of Tele Radio Stereo, praised Koné for turning down France, saying those matches do not count for much, and said Hermoso has become one of Gasperini's fixed points. She added that Gasperini had made his position clear, saying he will not sign for second place. Lorenzo Pes, also of Tele Radio Stereo, said the club now has a technical guide with clear ideas from the first day, and that Gasperini has accelerated the project. He said: "Now Roma have a technical guide with clear ideas from day one. For years we have heard about projects and building; now all of this has been accelerated by Gasperini from the first season. He has never hidden the real objective, which is to shorten the timelines as much as possible." Alessio Nardo, also of Tele Radio Stereo, said Roma should be among the top four and that finishing from fifth down would be a drama, adding that he would also be disappointed if Roma did not reach at least the Champions League playoff. Roberto Pruzzo of Radio Radio said Lazio play well and have an identity, and that they play only once a week, which helps them. On Roma, he said the side walk over weaker teams, and that Dybala, who has not played for two months, needs to be recovered. On Milan, he said they should leave Europe, as a double commitment would be a problem. On Mora, he said: "His growth is not something you see, because his height is what it is… joking aside, he still has half an hour of stamina." He said Mora is at his best against this type of team and becomes decisive in the final metres, though in other games he bounces and must be ready to be substituted after half an hour. On Hermoso, he admitted he had been wrong to think his career was finished, saying he had bounced back spectacularly. Nando Orsi of Radio Radio said he never doubted Roma would fight for the scudetto, and that Lazio are playing well with one match a week, describing them as a humble, convinced and empathetic side. He said: "It cannot just be a miracle; miracles do not last long. This is a team that must go all the way, or at least try. Napoli and Atalanta are far away." Mario Mattioli, also of Radio Radio, said Roma have more players but also more fixtures, while Lazio have a coach who is more realistic than the king in judging what happens on the pitch. He said: "I believe Lazio will last; whether they last longer than Roma, I don't know."

Wesley has become far more than a traditional attacking full-back for Roma, according to an in-depth assessment of the Brazilian's development under Gian Piero Gasperini. The 23-year-old has channelled his disappointment at missing the World Cup through injury into a sharper, more complete game, adding creativity, reading of the game and defensive awareness to the running that has always been his main asset. The article notes that Gasperini has been instilling a never-give-up mentality in his Roma side, capable of bouncing back after the Real Madrid defeat and reacting after the heavy beating in Manchester. Wesley embodies that approach. Early in the season some had questioned whether he was falling short of expectations, and his goals have not yet arrived compared with last season. The writer argues that stopping there would be a mistake, because Wesley now offers much more: he creates, defends with greater attention, beats his man and poses a constant threat to opposing defences. The statistics underline the change. Wesley has created 23 chances in Serie A, level with De Bruyne, and the article describes this as the figure that best captures his evolution. Last season he created 33 chances across the whole campaign. He also has 57 passes that break lines, 45 balls won back and 14 successful crosses. He now creates 2.81 chances per game, compared with 1.21 last season. Gasperini said before the trip to Manchester: "Sta facendo bene, è cresciuto" (He is doing well, he has grown). The article adds that Roma are enjoying Wesley, and Gasperini even more so. Carlo Ancelotti, who continues to select him for Brazil, has also noticed his progress. Last season, the article says, Wesley was more raw: he ran tirelessly, scored and had begun showing early signs of his talent, but his work was far from finished. Now he covers more defensively and, when attacking, drifts inside, breaks opposition lines and becomes an extra option for team-mates. The relationship with Mora is described as increasingly important. The two understand each other on the pitch. Wesley starts on the flank but does not stay tied to the line, moving into central areas between the lines and supporting attacks as an additional offensive presence. Mora can exploit these runs to find more space and freedom in the final third without having to guarantee width and depth himself. Wesley attacks, Mora creates, and Roma gain two extra options in the same area of the pitch. The article acknowledges that he is not, for obvious reasons, a De Bruyne, but says this version of Wesley fits Gasperini's Roma perfectly. The coach wanted him strongly and has no intention of giving him up. Off the pitch, the article says Wesley seems to have found his place at Trigoria: he enjoys himself, goes live on social media and always smiles. Gasperini sees him as the hidden gold this squad needed.

Netherlands head coach Xavi Hernandez has made clear that Roma forward Donyell Malen is, in his view, a centre-forward, even though he can also be used on the right. Malen has been recalled to the Dutch squad after missing the nation's most recent fixtures through injury. Speaking at a press conference, Xavi said: "For me Malen is a centre-forward. Of course, he is an option on the right, but he feels more comfortable playing as a striker." The comments appear to settle any doubt about the Dutchman's role. His predecessor Koeman often used him as a right winger, the same position he occupied during his time at Aston Villa. Since arriving in the capital, however, Gian Piero Gasperini has deployed him at the heart of the attack, producing thrilling results and convincing Xavi, the former Barcelona midfielder, of his value in that role. Xavi added: "The best thing we can do is give him confidence. Explain to him what we expect from him as a centre-forward. He knows how to attack the spaces, he understands what is asked of him. He recognises the right moment to be involved in the play. I think he can give the best of himself with the Oranje." Having won over Rome, Malen now wants to make his mark on the national team as well.

Roman radio pundits have been debating the Serie A title race, with several arguing Roma can genuinely challenge for the scudetto and that Lazio's surge should not be dismissed as a miracle. Rete Sport's David Rossi said the negative reaction after the Manchester defeat was undeserved by the club and by Gasperini. He said: "The negativity after Manchester was not deserved, neither by us nor by Gasp. Roma on Saturday offer another performance; they have become a team that always wins these matches. If you lose against the top 5 and win against the others, with a few draws here and there, you win the scudetto with ninety points… We not only win these games, we win them well." He added that against Sassuolo, Malen did not want to score and missed a couple of important chances, and that the first half could have been closed out 5 or 6 nil. Gianluca Piacentini, also on Rete Sport, discussed Kvernadze, who has a €4 million release clause in July, saying a January deal could cost between €10 and €12 million. On the Champions League race, he said Roma are in the mix, having reached the 11th matchday, alongside Lazio and Milan, which he said he did not expect. He noted that Napoli and Juventus are well behind. Piacentini argued that finishing second rather than fourth matters for the club's growth: "If you finish fourth you feel you have taken a step back; finish second and you have taken one forward. It is a matter of growth, so second is better than fourth." Checcо Oddo Casano, also on Rete Sport, praised the club's fitness record compared with other sides. He said: "Roma have held up well compared with other teams in terms of injuries. The work done by Gasperini and his staff is aimed at minimising injuries. Up to now, people who are always injured have stopped, such as Pellegrini and Dybala. Svilar has been unlucky with a broken foot, as has Koné… This squad runs, recovers, and we see a much more productive team than in previous years. This is down to better training. The intensity of the match is the result of the intensity of the weekly work. Competition for places has also raised the level of training, because no one is certain of his place." Mario Corsi of Tele Radio Stereo said this league is Inter and Roma, as it was at the start, and that Como can come back. He warned about Milan: "Be wary of Milan. Not so much this year, although anything can happen. Voices from Milan are talking about the January market, and beyond, they are also talking about next year. The madman (Cardinale, ed.) could build a team… I would not want Inter to win the scudetto this year and Milan next year." He added that Roma will do something in January, as the sporting director has said, and that Mora always scores, knowing where to place himself with an educated foot. Francesca Ferrazza, also of Tele Radio Stereo, praised Koné for turning down France, saying those matches do not count for much, and said Hermoso has become one of Gasperini's fixed points. She added that Gasperini had made his position clear, saying he will not sign for second place. Lorenzo Pes, also of Tele Radio Stereo, said the club now has a technical guide with clear ideas from the first day, and that Gasperini has accelerated the project. He said: "Now Roma have a technical guide with clear ideas from day one. For years we have heard about projects and building; now all of this has been accelerated by Gasperini from the first season. He has never hidden the real objective, which is to shorten the timelines as much as possible." Alessio Nardo, also of Tele Radio Stereo, said Roma should be among the top four and that finishing from fifth down would be a drama, adding that he would also be disappointed if Roma did not reach at least the Champions League playoff. Roberto Pruzzo of Radio Radio said Lazio play well and have an identity, and that they play only once a week, which helps them. On Roma, he said the side walk over weaker teams, and that Dybala, who has not played for two months, needs to be recovered. On Milan, he said they should leave Europe, as a double commitment would be a problem. On Mora, he said: "His growth is not something you see, because his height is what it is… joking aside, he still has half an hour of stamina." He said Mora is at his best against this type of team and becomes decisive in the final metres, though in other games he bounces and must be ready to be substituted after half an hour. On Hermoso, he admitted he had been wrong to think his career was finished, saying he had bounced back spectacularly. Nando Orsi of Radio Radio said he never doubted Roma would fight for the scudetto, and that Lazio are playing well with one match a week, describing them as a humble, convinced and empathetic side. He said: "It cannot just be a miracle; miracles do not last long. This is a team that must go all the way, or at least try. Napoli and Atalanta are far away." Mario Mattioli, also of Radio Radio, said Roma have more players but also more fixtures, while Lazio have a coach who is more realistic than the king in judging what happens on the pitch. He said: "I believe Lazio will last; whether they last longer than Roma, I don't know."

Thirteen Roma players have been called up by their national teams for the November international break, a sign of the squad's growing standing at the highest level, according to Il Messaggero's Daniele Aloisi. Trigoria will be almost empty in the early part of the week, with the gates reopening on Wednesday, leaving Gian Piero Gasperini to prepare for the resumption with a heavily reduced group. Gasperini had already made clear his view of the break, calling the upcoming international fixtures "amichevoli o poco più" (friendlies or little more) after the match against Sassuolo. Argentina, the runners-up at the World Cup, begin a new cycle without Lionel Messi and have recalled Matías Soulé, Leonardo Balerdi and Santiago Castro for friendlies against Uruguay and Costa Rica. Wesley faces a much longer trip, travelling to Singapore with Brazil for games against the hosts and Japan. Italy boss Roberto Mancini has opted for youth for the Nations League matches against France and Belgium. Niccolò Pisilli and Daniele Ghilardi will join up at Coverciano, while Bryan Cristante remains at Trigoria. Donyell Malen has also been called up and will meet Xavi, the new Netherlands coach, for the first time. Rodrigo Mora returns to the senior national team a year after his last call-up, which coincided with the campaign that ended in victory in the Nations League.

Roma have refused to release Nahuel Molina for Argentina's upcoming friendlies, keeping the defender at Trigoria despite a reduction in his FIFA suspension. The club has informed the Argentine federation (AFA) that it will not authorise the intercontinental trip. According to Il Messaggero, FIFA partially accepted the AFA's appeal and cut Molina's ban from seven matchdays to four. That ruling would have allowed the full-back to take part in one of the two friendlies against Uruguay and Costa Rica. The problem was timing: Argentina's call-up arrived only on Saturday, while Roma were playing Sassuolo at the Olimpico. Roma judged the request too late and will keep Molina in the capital, where he will train under Gian Piero Gasperini during the break rather than make a long trip for, at most, one match. It is not the first time Roma have blocked a departure of this kind. In September the club denied Molina and Paulo Dybala permission to play in the match organised for Lionel Messi's farewell to the national team, citing sporting and logistical reasons. This time, however, the decisive factor was the AFA's late communication. Molina will remain available to Gasperini to prepare for the resumption of Serie A, while Matías Soulé, Leonardo Balerdi and Santiago Castro will travel to join Argentina as scheduled.

Roma head into the international break with a near-perfect run to protect, and Gian Piero Gasperini has used a demanding stretch of nine matches in 27 days to rotate his squad. Gasperini admitted the schedule had been tough but said it had allowed him to use the whole squad: "We had tough clashes like Como, Napoli, Manchester and Real Madrid. The management was not a problem, and this allowed us to rotate the whole squad." During that intense spell, players who had been on the fringes stepped forward. Rodrigo Mora took advantage of Paulo Dybala's extended absence to win a key role, scoring in three consecutive matches. De Roon showed why Gasperini wanted him in the capital, while Ghilardi, Gollini and Vásquez also got their chances. Gasperini gave everyone a run-out, partly out of necessity. Both the coach and D'Amico have acknowledged that the squad is thin, and with a few injuries it risks becoming very thin indeed. The debate over whether the break is a blessing may therefore be answered by the players Roma get back when the league resumes. Roma are among the clubs that could benefit most from the pause. Their injuries have required fairly long recovery periods, but few players have been affected. The problem is that nearly all of them are key figures in the Giallorossi set-up. Chief among them is Mile Svilar, who has been out since 10 October and has kept training both at Trigoria and in individual sessions with a fitness coach, without managing to speed up his recovery. Tests carried out about ten days ago led the club and the goalkeeper to choose caution. The aim is for him to return against Parma, and then reach peak condition for the highly delicate trip to Paris. Dybala is on the same timetable. The calf injury he suffered against Real Madrid kept him out longer than expected, but the Argentine is now ready to return and make a difference, perhaps also finding a goal he has not scored since 18 January. Manu Koné has already returned, playing 66 excellent minutes against Sassuolo. The Frenchman was not called up by his national team and will use these days to regain his best condition. He will have an extra incentive compared with his team-mates: to impress at the Parc des Princes, a stadium a few kilometres from the home where he grew up. Gasperini hopes to get back the Roma of the "first lines", because he refuses to talk about starters. The coach remains torn about the break: "It interrupts the league again, although this time only for a week. I like international matches when they play for something important. For friendlies or matches of little consequence, it is a pity to lose so many players." Roma face another demanding run: seven matches in 29 days, during which the Giallorossi will play a major part of their season. The fixtures include the already mentioned trip to Paris Saint-Germain, the home match against Sporting, the game against Juventus and, above all, the derby against Lazio on 13 December. The next month will be crucial in measuring Roma's real ambitions, with the January transfer window expected to bring fresh impetus.

Paulo Dybala is reportedly attracting strong interest from two MLS clubs, Inter Miami and New York City, according to Piero Torri of Romasport.eu. The international break is expected to give Roma the chance to recover the Argentine, who has been sidelined by injury for almost a month. Dybala signed a one-year contract renewal over the summer, but this could be his final season in yellow and red given his age, his recurring physical problems and the club's wish to make the squad younger still. Inter Miami, where Lionel Messi plays and whom Dybala won the 2022 World Cup alongside, are said to have already begun initial contacts with the player's entourage, with club founder and co-owner David Beckham leading the approach. New York City, owned by the group that also runs Manchester City, have also made an approach, and talks with both sides are ongoing. The MLS season starts in March, so a move could theoretically happen in the January window. However, Roma and Gasperini are reportedly unwilling to let such an important player go midway through the season, making that scenario very difficult.

Wesley has become far more than a traditional attacking full-back for Roma, according to an in-depth assessment of the Brazilian's development under Gian Piero Gasperini. The 23-year-old has channelled his disappointment at missing the World Cup through injury into a sharper, more complete game, adding creativity, reading of the game and defensive awareness to the running that has always been his main asset. The article notes that Gasperini has been instilling a never-give-up mentality in his Roma side, capable of bouncing back after the Real Madrid defeat and reacting after the heavy beating in Manchester. Wesley embodies that approach. Early in the season some had questioned whether he was falling short of expectations, and his goals have not yet arrived compared with last season. The writer argues that stopping there would be a mistake, because Wesley now offers much more: he creates, defends with greater attention, beats his man and poses a constant threat to opposing defences. The statistics underline the change. Wesley has created 23 chances in Serie A, level with De Bruyne, and the article describes this as the figure that best captures his evolution. Last season he created 33 chances across the whole campaign. He also has 57 passes that break lines, 45 balls won back and 14 successful crosses. He now creates 2.81 chances per game, compared with 1.21 last season. Gasperini said before the trip to Manchester: "Sta facendo bene, è cresciuto" (He is doing well, he has grown). The article adds that Roma are enjoying Wesley, and Gasperini even more so. Carlo Ancelotti, who continues to select him for Brazil, has also noticed his progress. Last season, the article says, Wesley was more raw: he ran tirelessly, scored and had begun showing early signs of his talent, but his work was far from finished. Now he covers more defensively and, when attacking, drifts inside, breaks opposition lines and becomes an extra option for team-mates. The relationship with Mora is described as increasingly important. The two understand each other on the pitch. Wesley starts on the flank but does not stay tied to the line, moving into central areas between the lines and supporting attacks as an additional offensive presence. Mora can exploit these runs to find more space and freedom in the final third without having to guarantee width and depth himself. Wesley attacks, Mora creates, and Roma gain two extra options in the same area of the pitch. The article acknowledges that he is not, for obvious reasons, a De Bruyne, but says this version of Wesley fits Gasperini's Roma perfectly. The coach wanted him strongly and has no intention of giving him up. Off the pitch, the article says Wesley seems to have found his place at Trigoria: he enjoys himself, goes live on social media and always smiles. Gasperini sees him as the hidden gold this squad needed.

Thirteen Roma players have been called up by their national teams for the November international break, a sign of the squad's growing standing at the highest level, according to Il Messaggero's Daniele Aloisi. Trigoria will be almost empty in the early part of the week, with the gates reopening on Wednesday, leaving Gian Piero Gasperini to prepare for the resumption with a heavily reduced group. Gasperini had already made clear his view of the break, calling the upcoming international fixtures "amichevoli o poco più" (friendlies or little more) after the match against Sassuolo. Argentina, the runners-up at the World Cup, begin a new cycle without Lionel Messi and have recalled Matías Soulé, Leonardo Balerdi and Santiago Castro for friendlies against Uruguay and Costa Rica. Wesley faces a much longer trip, travelling to Singapore with Brazil for games against the hosts and Japan. Italy boss Roberto Mancini has opted for youth for the Nations League matches against France and Belgium. Niccolò Pisilli and Daniele Ghilardi will join up at Coverciano, while Bryan Cristante remains at Trigoria. Donyell Malen has also been called up and will meet Xavi, the new Netherlands coach, for the first time. Rodrigo Mora returns to the senior national team a year after his last call-up, which coincided with the campaign that ended in victory in the Nations League.

Thirteen Roma players have been called up for international duty, leaving Trigoria largely empty during the break, and Gian Piero Gasperini will have to work with the few who remain in Rome. The Italian report notes that the club's form has made it a reservoir for national teams. Midfielder Manu Koné, who has just recovered, was not called up by France, a fortunate outcome for Gasperini. The first players back will be Ghilardi and Pisilli, who finish their commitments with the match against Belgium on 15 November and are expected at Trigoria the following day, giving them five days to prepare for the game against Parma. Malen returns on 17 November, while Gasperini will be reunited with Lulli and Koulierakis on 18 November. Players who travelled overseas will take longer: Balerdi, Soulé and Castro are due back in Rome by 19 November, just two days before the trip to Emilia. Mora, Wesley and Ndicka are also expected close to the match. The report suggests Gasperini may only have his full squad available on the eve of the clash at the Tardini. The timings make management difficult for Gasperini, who risks having the whole group together only the day before the fixture at the Tardini. The schedule leaves a short window for tactical preparation with the full squad.